A Promise

Third Master Du walked out of the village entrance and looked at the ox cart not far away, his face dark. Seeing that no one else was around, one of his men stepped forward and said, "Third Master, if nothing else works, let's use force."

"Force, my ass!" Third Master Du cursed. "If we could use force, wouldn't I have done it already? Why would I bother with all this scheming? The higher-ups said we mustn't stir up a lawsuit unless there's absolutely no other choice. You want to use force? How?"

His man gave an ingratiating smile. "Third Master, if you grease the right palms beforehand, won't the lawsuit settle itself?"

"I call you stupid, and you go and prove me right! Nobody was paying attention to begin with. If you start greasing palms up and down the ranks, won't that draw even more eyes?" Third Master Du muttered grimly to himself, "Where in the world did this Langya Wang fellow spring from?"

One of his men asked in alarm, "Is he really from the Langya Wang?"

"I don't know whether he's genuine, but the Niyang Liu and Xinye Yu fellows should both be the real thing."

His men silently clicked their tongues at this. Something that should not have been difficult had actually dragged in two of Jingzhou's great aristocratic clans! They had kicked an iron plate this time!

Third Master Du thought, Now that these people are mixed up in this, I can't just bulldoze ahead. I'll have to find a way around them...

Meanwhile, Wang Yang offered Patrol Chief Tong a few reassuring words before letting his party leave. Yu Yuling asked, puzzled, "Brother Wang, you were so stern with Du San. Why were you so forgiving toward this petty official?"

"Du San is a wolf," Wang Yang said. "Show the slightest fear, and you may no longer be able to keep him in check. Patrol Chief Tong is timid and doesn't dare stir up trouble. He only came this time at someone else's bidding, so there was no need to humiliate him further. Besides, he's responsible for keeping the peace here. As the saying goes, 'The county magistrate matters less than the man in charge on the spot.' If I reprimanded him too harshly and he held a grudge, he might take it out on Black Han's family someday."

"I've learned something today. 'The county magistrate matters less than the man in charge on the spot'-that's an interesting saying."

"Young master, you're amazing! Even the bad men are scared of you!" Little A-Wu ran over to Wang Yang.

Wang Yang bent down and lightly brushed A-Wu's little nose. "You're amazing too. You held out for so long before you cried."

"I didn't cry, I didn't cry! A-Wu didn't cry!" Remembering how she had bawled, little A-Wu felt terribly embarrassed and hurriedly denied it.

"Oh, then I must have remembered wrong. A-Wu is so brave!"

Watching them, Yu Yuling was moved. Brother Wang really is easygoing with people. Even a servant's daughter is so close to him. He handled Patrol Chief Tong and Third Master Du with a clear sense of strategy too. I've chosen a good friend!

Wang Yang then led Black Han and A-Wu in thanking Yu Yuling. Seeing Black Han hesitate as though he had something to say, Yu Yuling realized he wanted to speak with Wang Yang and returned to the cart to wait for him.

After Yu Yuling left, Black Han told Wang Yang that he would return to camp tomorrow. Wang Yang asked, "When you go back to camp, what will happen to A-Wu?"

"A-Wu will be fine. She's been able to stay home by herself since a year ago. Granny Zhao is the kindest person around. I've asked her and a few neighbors to look after her. They'll help if anything happens."

As he spoke, he took a small blue bundle from the bottom of a chest. "Young master, here are the three thousand coins you borrowed from the Commandery Academy earlier. I'm returning them to you."

Wang Yang was a little surprised. "Three thousand? Didn't you redeem your saber?"

"This lowly one was worried-"

"Didn't I tell you not to call yourself 'this lowly one' when there are no outsiders around?"

Black Han looked a little embarrassed, but obediently changed his wording. "I was worried you might have other plans for the money, young master, so I didn't redeem the saber."

"First, take five hundred coins to redeem it. And didn't you borrow five hundred from Ding Jiu? Pay him back... fifteen hundred."

"Huh? Isn't that... a little too much?" Black Han felt the pinch. Even if they were going to give him extra, another hundred or two hundred coins should have been enough.

"It's not too much. Tell him I'm the one repaying it. The extra is interest."

The loan had lasted only two days, and the interest was two hundred percent. Ding Jiu would be making a handsome profit.

Since Wang Yang had crossed over, Black Han and Ding Jiu had been among the first people to have contact with him. They knew quite a few things about him, and after returning to camp, they might tell Squad Leader Xue and Clerk Wang the details of his time in Eighth Camp Village.

Wang Yang did not know whether Squad Leader Xue really intended to leave him alone from now on. But if anything went wrong with Ding Jiu, it might become an explosive mine waiting to go off someday.

Giving him extra money would, first, keep Ding Jiu from nursing resentment. He had lent the money in the first place in hopes of a high return. If those expectations went unmet, he would certainly be disgruntled.

Second, it would demonstrate Wang Yang's standing and capabilities, intimidating Ding Jiu enough to keep him from harboring crooked thoughts.

Third, it would give Ding Jiu a taste of the rewards, making him cherish his "friendship" with Wang Yang even more. That attachment might produce an unexpected effect at some point in the future.

After setting aside Ding Jiu's share, Wang Yang added, "As for the remaining thousand coins, we'll take five hundred each."

Black Han hastily refused. "I-I don't want it! You've just paid off such a huge debt for us, young master. How could I take more of your money?"

Seeing that Black Han firmly refused to accept it, Wang Yang simply left half the money behind and said, "All right, the cart is still waiting for me. I'll be off."

"Young master, young master! You're the most trustworthy person in the whole world!" Little A-Wu suddenly popped out and blocked the doorway.

Wang Yang paused in surprise. "What makes you say that?"

"Last time, you said you'd bring A-Wu sweets, and then you really had Daddy bring some home! People who keep their word like you are so rare! You're a trustworthy young master, a young master who keeps his promises! I told you, good-looking people always keep their word!"

Seeing little A-Wu staring up at him with wide eyes full of anticipation, Wang Yang immediately guessed what she was thinking. He patted her head and asked:

"Does A-Wu want to go to Jingzhou City?"

A-Wu's big eyes instantly sparkled:

"Can I? Can I?! I heard there's a big market in the city every day, dozens of times livelier than the village fair we have here every year!"

"I did say last time that I'd take you into the city on my next visit, but I really can't today," Wang Yang said apologetically.

He had just borrowed a large sum from Liu Zhao and put aside his manuscript to leave the city. If he still failed to work hard on his writing after returning, he would be letting Liu Zhao down. Though Liu Zhao would not say anything, relationships went both ways. He could not act however he pleased just because someone else was accommodating.

A-Wu's big eyes instantly dimmed. Black Han hurriedly said, "Be good, A-Wu. The young master is very busy. Daddy will take you. Come over here. Don't block the young master's way out."

A-Wu murmured her assent. Though she knew her father would return to camp tomorrow and could not possibly take her into the city anytime soon, she still stepped aside to clear the passage, lowered her head, and stared at the tips of her straw sandals.

Wang Yang's heart softened. He patted A-Wu's head. "I really can't today. How about this? I'll come pick you up at noon tomorrow, and we'll spend the afternoon properly exploring Jingzhou City's big market. What do you say?"

Little A-Wu jumped three feet into the air.

Inside the Commandery Academy, Liu Zhao stood outside his study, looking anxious.

Why aren't they back yet?

This doesn't make sense!

What's taking Zijie so long? Didn't I tell him to bring Zhi Yan back quickly?

A servant hurried over. "Sir!"

Liu Zhao brightened. "They're back?"

"No. Mr. Zong sent someone to say that he's moving into his new residence today and would like to invite you over for a gathering." The servant handed him an invitation.

Deeply disappointed, Liu Zhao took the invitation. Seeing that it bore only a single large character, "Invited," he could not help laughing despite himself.

There was probably no second person in all of Jingzhou who wrote invitations like that.

Unfortunately, scholarship came first, and he could not attend. He said, "Tell him I have business today and won't be coming. Send my set of mottled-bamboo brushes and stacked-stone inkstone as housewarming gifts."

Another servant hurried over. Liu Zhao asked delightedly, "They're back?"

"A reply from West Sandbar."

Liu Zhao had an older clan cousin named Liu Qiu, a devout Buddhist who lived in seclusion on West Sandbar outside Jiangling. He frequently exchanged letters with the second prince, Xiao Ziliang, the Prince of Jingling, who also believed in Buddhism. Known as a virtuous prince, the Prince of Jingling was the son the emperor valued most after the crown prince. He had been appointed to the high office of Minister over the Masses to assist in governing.

Some time earlier, over the matter of abolishing the Commandery Academy, Liu Zhao had asked Liu Qiu to seek help from the Prince of Jingling. Now that the reply had finally arrived, he hurriedly took it and began reading.

Let us honor this fine festival with drunken abandon, not climb the heights to bid the fading sunlight farewell. May you all be blissfully content today. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! I'll drain my cup; drink as you please!